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Madison Wedding Photographers

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Madison Wedding Photographers

Our Madison photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Dane County, Madison Metropolitan Area, Iowa County, Green County, Columbia County, Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Kegonsa and Lake Waubesa

Madison Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Madison - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Madison photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the happiness and closeness of your religious, unique, boutique, or at-home wedding.

By planning a simple Madison elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. With many couples feeling more comfortable and relaxed in intimate settings, it is not surprising that some of the most sincere and touching wedding photos are captured at smaller celebrations.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Madison documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
As the sun sets below the horizon, a couple elopes and captures a romantic moment, exchanging loving gazes against the stunning backdrop of a sunset.
Attila Ancsin
The couple chose an intimate elopement with just the two of them to exchange vows in an indoor hotel ceremony, with only two registrars and two witnesses present
Paul Tansley
The couple's heartfelt vows brought lots of laughter and smiles during the ceremony
Esther Gibbons

Madison Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Madison wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.

Wisconsin WPJA members are ready to document any courthouse, quick, town hall, or any other type of elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Madison Wedding Venues

WPJA Venue Images
WPJA Venue Images
WPJA Venue Images

3 Madison Wedding Photographers...

Madison wedding and elopement photography by Ilana Bar-av of Wisconsin

In a journalistic style, Ilana Bar av is a visual storyteller who captures the beautiful moments of weddings. Inspired by her father and brother, also photographers, Barav overcame skepticism to pursue her passion and celebrates six successful years in the business.

Ilana Bar av

Madison in Wisconsin, US
43
2
4800 (USD)
Lifestyle portrait in BW of Chicago wedding photographer Madi Ellis

Madi Ellis, a documentary wedding photographer from the USA, has a strong passion for capturing love stories in a raw and authentic way. With a background in acting, she skillfully tells couples' stories through her honest and original work.

Madi Ellis

Chicago in Illinois, US *Now booking Madison weddings.
21
30
5950 (USD)
Pro documentary-style wedding photography by Bradley Hanson

In the journalistic style, Bradley Hanson is an experienced wedding photojournalist who captures the candid moments of the wedding day. With 24 years of experience, he has covered celebrations of all sizes and his work has been featured in magazines and ad campaigns.

Bradley Hanson

St. Paul in Minnesota, US *Now booking Madison weddings.
31
5000 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Madison Couples

Madison Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some Madison wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Madison marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Madison engagement portrait sessions with couples.

A portrait of a wedding couple at The Tinsmith in Madison, Wisconsin, captures the elegantly dressed wedding party, creating an intense and sophisticated atmosphere reminiscent of a reality TV show
At the Olin Park Pavilion in Madison, WI, the couple shared a special moment as they danced their first dance together in the indoor reception venue during the daytime
At the Madison, Wisconsin Ceremony and Reception Site of Aldo Leopold, the kids look to adults while playing
In Wisconsin, at the Madison Public Library, the couple kisses at the end of their wedding ceremony
Best wedding photography from the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin from a low angle showing Couples dog jumping on brides wedding dress during recessional
An exceptional Wisconsin wedding photojournalism sample by a professional Madison, WI photographer at Goodman Center communicating the Couple toasting wedding guests
A top wedding photojournalist created this image at the Houdini Mansion in Los Angeles, California showing Two wedding party people tie their ties in the mirrors
Wedding photograph from the Couple's apartment in Madison, WI showing the Father Daughter Dance in the living room of the couple at their rescheduled wedding
Picture of a Couple dancing their first dance in their apartment in Madison, WI
Coronavirus, COVID, Madison backyard wedding image of the groom and bride talking through zoom with their parents after getting married
Wisconsin wedding photo from Madison of a couple Just married outside
A Madison wi couple rings church bells after their wedding ceremony

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Madison wedding day?
A: While wedding photojournalists strive to capture candid moments on the wedding day, our photographers also are skilled artists who can compose powerful portraits. If you have a specific vision of what types of images you want from your wedding day, look at the top-ranked Madison wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.
Q: How can couples find top-ranked Madison wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Madison photographers you see at the top of your search results page have recently won the most — and the most recent — contest awards. Our contests judge photographers based on their creativity, style, composure, and ability to capture the heart of any couple's story on their wedding day.
Q: Who are the best Madison wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Madison documentary wedding photographers for elopements. Our members are able to submit WedElope Stories that take you step-by-step, via a 9 image picture story, through the unique and moving elopements that take place around the world.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
Clean background in this photo of the bride walking into her mountain ceremony.
Adventure Wedding Elopements
Some couples, as they begin planning for their weddings, might think that they are limited to the classic locations: churches, gardens, beaches, or even Las Vegas. But in doing so they’re missing out on a multitude of unique options that might suit their personalities much...Read more
Jola Mulder, of Overijssel, is a wedding photographer for
Bringing it Home: The Joys of a Backyard Wedding
Oftentimes when people are considering a venue for their weddings, they search for a location away from home, whether that be ten minutes or ten hours, all just to find what they already have: a place that holds meaning for them, that feels comfortable, or that they find...Read more
An Unforgettable Romance: The Intimacy of an Elopement
While some people live for the hustle and bustle of a big wedding with extravagant décor and an impossibly long guest list, others find these kinds of weddings to be too much hoopla, preferring instead something simpler and quieter, allowing for more intimacy between them...Read more

WPJA Communiqué: Viewpoints
Elopements: Traditional and Modern
The oldsters among the WPJA ranks no doubt remember when 'to elope' meant, in Merriam-Webster’s definition, “to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental consent.” Many wedding photographers have gone on the lam with couples who did just that. However, even Merriam-Webster now acknowledges that “elope appears to have become shorthand for ‘ small destination weddings ,’ a ‘ wedding that is not financially insane ,’ or a ‘ wedding that allows us to not invite all the people we would rather not invite .’” Smaller Weddings are... Read more
What is Reportage?
On Instagram and elsewhere, one can see images labeled as #photojournalism or #reportage when they are, in fact, merely photos. I say "merely," even though photography has been my career's great passion. But it's because of that passion and my respect for the work of actual photojournalists that I am particularly bothered to see wedding photographers call their work "reportage." That word properly used actually means something important beyond just a stylistic conceit. By contrast, however, I'm the lead cheerleader for those practitioners of #weddingphotojournalism ... Read more

WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.